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SERMON:
8% Real (worry)
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MP3-2019 by Chris Cumming
The other day, I received a Bible question which was composed of just 4 words. The question was, “Is worry a sin?”
I was immediately intrigued. Clearly the person had touched on a subject which impacts just about every member of the Church at some time or another.
As I studied into the subject, I found that worry has a number of elements.
Today, our purpose will be to explore these elements as I encourage all of us to rid our lives of this unreasonable, unnatural, unhelpful, unhealthy and unnecessary state-of-disturbance called Worry.
We will discuss how we live in the Age of Worry and Anxiety. We will define just what the word, “worry” means. I believe that you will be astounded at its meaning. I will show what worry does to our physical health. From the Bible we will see what God says about worry. We will see its effect upon our mental and Spiritual lives and just how worry can lead to sin. Finally, we will look at practical ways to rid our lives of worry.
I. We Live in the Age of Worry—Worry Exists
You can see worry in people’s faces—they are taut, constricted, intense.
You can see worry in people’s attitudes—They are disquieted, apprehensive and vexed. More often than not, they tell you, up front, that they are worried about something.
You can see the physical signs of worry—people with ulcers, on the verge of a nervous breakdown and those with certain heart diseases.
And what is it that we worry about? The short answer is that we worry about EVERYTHING!!
We worry about:
· our daily provisions · our employment · the future · the unknown · personal relationships—marriage, kids, family · life and death · health · pleasing people · prophecy and the end time · our salvation and entering into the Kingdom
The fact is most of our worrying is unnecessary as witnessed by the following figures which have been around for a very long time:
“An average person’s anxiety is focused on:”
40%--on things that will not happen 30%--on things about the past that cannot be changed. 12%--on things about criticism by other, mostly untrue. 10% --about health, which get worse with the stress of worry.
And 8%--about real problems that will be faced head-on anyway.
Some people worry about one specific thing for years and years. Reminds me of the story of the lady, who for years had trouble getting to sleep each night because she feared burglars. One night her husband heard a noise in the house, so he went downstairs to investigate. Sure enough, he found a burglar!! “Good evening” said the man of the house. “I am pleased to see you. Come upstairs and meet my wife. She has been waiting 10 years to meet you.”
Worry can definitely have that type of an effect on a person!!
II The Meaning of the Word, “Worry”
You know, it’s a funny thing about most words we use everyday. We learn them as young children and we are given a child’s simple definition of the word. Sometimes we carry these simple definitions all our lives and never look into the deep meanings and implications of the words we use.
Such is the case with the word “Worry”. You are about to see why the subject of worry has such an impact on Spiritual matters and why we must rid ourselves of it.
1) To feel or express undue care and anxiety; to manifest disquietude or pain. To be fretful. 2) A state of disturbance. 3) from the German word, “wurgen” meaning “to strangle”. In the British dialect the meaning is “to Choke” or “to Strangle”. Notice how this meaning ties directly to scripture. Turn to Mark 4 and the Parable of the Sower:
Mark 4:18-19 (breaking into the middle of the parable) 18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
Worries can actually choke the Word of God right out of our minds. Our focus is on the problem or fear for which we worry.
Back to the dictionary for another definition or two:
4) to harass by pursuit and barking; to attack repeatedly; also, to tear or mangle with the teeth.
Do you see the Spiritual implications of that definition? Worry tears down the mind. It “mangles” our thinking.
5) from the Greek word “merimnao” which is derived from the word “merizo” meaning to “Divide the mind”
Worry divides the mind….and who is it who wants to divide our mind? Clearly, we can see the need to rid ourselves of this very negative element from our lives.
III What Worry does to our Physical Health
I found a couple of sources on this. The first from the National Mental Health Committee:
“They reported just a few years ago that Half of all the people in America’s hospitals beds are constant worriers. Mental distress can lead to migraine headaches, arthritis, heart problems, colitis, backaches, ulcers, depression, digestive disorders and yes, even death. (Still quoting) Add to that list the mental fatigue of nights without sleep and days without peace, then we get a glimpse of the havoc worry plays in destroying the quality and quantity of life.”
From another source I found on the Internet:
(and I quote) “Medical research has proved that worry breaks down the immune system and renders the body incapable of resisting disease. Worry damages the nervous system—particularly that of the digestive organs and of the heart” (end quote).
To show you the power of worry, I submit the following story…
Death was walking toward a city one morning and a man asked, “What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to take 100 people.” Death replied.
The man hurried to warn everyone he could about Death’s plan.
As evening fell, he met Death again. “You told me you were going to take 100 people, “ the man said. “Why did 1,000 die?”
“I kept my word, “Death responded. “I only took 100 people. Worry took the others.” Worry DOES have power!
IV. What Does the Bible Say About Worry?
1] People in the Bible had moments of worry.
Psalm 34:4 (David) I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
Psalm 56:3 (David) What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
2 Corinthians 7:5 (Paul) For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.
2 Timothy 1:6-7 (Timothy) [see Lessons] 6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Luke 10:41 (Martha) And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
2] God shows Worry to be a negative element: Proverbs 12:25 Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.
Psalm 38:6-8 (David again) 6 I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. 7 For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh. 8 I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.
Proverbs 15:13 (Solomon) A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Proverbs 18:14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
Mark 14:33-34 (Jesus Christ) 33 And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; 34 And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.
So, we see that even from the Word of God that “Worry” is not a good thing. The Good News is that God gives us promise and encouragement regarding Worry:
3] Encouragement from God
Psalm 145:18 The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
Isaiah 26:3-4 3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:
Philippians 4:6-7 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Matthew 6:25-31 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
4] Action steps from the Bible
Psalm 127:2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
2 Timothy 2:1-4 [see Lessons] 2:1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
Isaiah 35:3-4 3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. 4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.
James 1:2-6 2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
Faith is key here for Worry wars against faith. It gets between you and Faith and if it gets between you and Faith, it gets between you and God.
Therefore, if one is always steeped in worry and getting further and further from God, WORRY BECOMES SIN. Worry must be stopped before it becomes a sin. Remember Romans 14..
Romans 14:23 (last 8 words) 23 … for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
At this point and as the final portion of this sermon, I want to give you four (4) practical steps for ridding your life of worry.
1) Go to God in Prayer.
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Jude 20-21 20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Proverbs 3:5-6 (Trust in God) 5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Psalm 86:1 Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy.
Psalm 86:3-5 (He even shows us how to pray) 3 Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily. 4 Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. 5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
2) Immerse Yourself in God’s Word
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Psalm 119:114-117 114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word. 115 Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God. 116 Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope. 117 Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.
Psalm 119:147-149 147 I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word. 148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word. 149 Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O LORD, quicken me according to thy judgment.
3) Stop Worry at your Gates
Remember my sermon on City Gates?
Cast away each worry as it hits your gate. Interrogate each worry and see which kind it is:
40%--will never happen 30%--things of the past that can’t be changed 12%--criticism of others, mostly untrue 10%--health problems 8%--real problems……and what do we do with those?
Psalm 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
1 Peter 5:6-10 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
4) Exchange Worry for Bold Concern.
Some have asked the difference between “worry” and “concern”. It is rather easy to tell these two elements apart:
Worry has no plans, only pain. Concern has a plan of action and the added elements of boldness and energy. Worry has no inherent energy; it saps energy. Concern redeems the time; worry saps your time. Worry is defeat. Concern is a path toward triumph and success.
So cast away your worries and exchange them for Godly concern and you will know peace and joy.
Remember the words of William Marshall…
Worry is faith in the negative, trust in the unpleasant, assurance of disaster and belief in defeat…worry is wasting today’s time to clutter up tomorrow’s opportunities with yesterday’s troubles.
A dense fog that covers a seven-city-block area 100 feet deep is composed of less than one glass of water divided into 60,000 million drops. Not much there, but it can cripple an entire city.
Don’t let Worry “fog” you in. Come out into the bright light where God is.
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